Fall Down, Stand Up: Advice for Aspiring Principals

Starting out as a principal is a lot like starting out as a new teacher. You feel alone. You need guidance. And you have to provide leadership even when you don’t feel sure of yourself. You also make mistakes. In Fall Down, Stand Up: Advice for Aspiring Principals, Russ Thompson provides guidance for future principals based upon his experiences as the principal of three urban high schools in Los Angeles. Practical suggestions are provided for creating an orderly school climate, improving classroom instruction, ensuring effective school operations, providing thoughtful leadership, and working with people. Every principal makes mistakes and falls down. This book is about standing up, becoming better, and working to create schools where all students learn at the highest levels.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgements Discipline The Problem Was Now Worse Class Time Was Like Lunch Time It Was the Best He Had Seen Simple DetentionHe Had to Change His MentalitySaturday School Lunch SupervisionA Fight that Was Prevented The Problem with SuspensionsThe First Award of His Entire Life It Was Almost a Real Emergency Riot and RecoverySection Review Classroom Instruction The Learning in ClassroomsThe Reason It WorkedA Sustained Process He Had Firmly BelievedYou Have to Go Out and Look for ProblemsThe Best Way to Spend Your TimeIt Was His First DayAn Opinion Is Not Research Your Presence in Classrooms Will It Help Students Learn Better?The Power of a Positive Learning EnvironmentThe Common Core State StandardsA Model LessonSection ReviewSchool Operations Cleaning NeededThe Foundation of Your Entire SchoolTragedyAnother TragedyAlmost a DisasterPhone Calls The Entire ContractThe Right Kind of Faculty MeetingSection ReviewLeadershipDelegation Delegation Gone Bad DeadlinesAsk QuestionsA Sacrifice You Must MakePrioritiesAlso Listen to the Quiet VoicesWe Are Not as Bad As...Making People Happy Is Not Your JobHe Went Over to His ShelfPick Up the PhoneA Leader Who Got Things DoneDo Not Let the Obstacle Overcome YouExhaustionA Mistake He Would Never Forget Advice from a ProTarget PracticeAsk for AdviceA Big DifferenceAlways Watching YouSection ReviewPeople In the Middle of KidsIt Was Distorted and Very NegativePeople Need TimeSuggestion or Requirement?Saved by a RecordingDeviceNecessary ActionIt Was Said Behind His BackIt Was a Lie and the Principal Believed HimGossipDelay Makes It WorseTalk to the Person in Person You Must Also Be PersuasiveRemember the PositivesA Good School AgainSection ReviewAbout the Author Index

About the Author :
Russ Thompson served thirty-six years as an educator in Los Angeles, including fourteen years as the principal of three high schools. Two of the schools where he served as principal were turnaround schools.

Review :
Tired of arm chair theorists and distant policy wonks in conservative think tanks telling politicians, gullible op-ed editors, and state legislators who want instant fixes of how easy it is to fix the schools? Then open this book by veteran public school principal Russ Thompson for how it is in the real world of school administration for a refreshing memoir of the multi dimensionalities of the hard day to day continuous challenges involved with real school improvement. Fall Down, Stand Up will find you cheering for the hard won little victories at day’s end that when summed up over time result in changed school accomplishment and operational success. This is one of the most comprehensive books on the principalship and leadership I have encountered. It is written by a thoughtful administrator who has actually done the job. It could easily be useful to managers and administrators in fields other than education. I enjoyed every part of this book. I wish I could have read it before I became a principal. This is a terrific tool for incoming administrators and those who plan to become principals. Fall Down, Stand Up: Advice for Aspiring Principals is an easy read, full of sound, practical advice.